Venomous

Indeed, Fergus and Malgino were a great team. They solved mysteries, saved others from werewolves and other dark creatures, befriended exotic magical beasts. There was nothing they couldn't overcome together. Obviously, their popularity skyrocketed in Hogwarts. Malgino was already popular but now he and Fergus were living legends and the people who, laughed and gossiped about Fergus, wanted to be his friends.

Fergus didn't want to do anything with them. He was content with just one friend. But his father was not.

The news of his son's sudden popularity finally reached Godric Gryffindor, and he was less than thrilled about it. He called his son for chastening. Fergus dreaded the day without knowing what to do or what to say to his father. His father wanted to keep him hidden and the moment he got out he ran headfirst towards the opposite of it.

A tall and thin Fergus wiped his hands on his robes before knocking on Gryffindor's office room. 

"Enter," Gryffindor grumbled and Fergus took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"Good afternoon fa–" Fergus began but stopped short when he saw Malgino sitting opposite to his father.

Godric Gryffindor didn't look at the door as Fergus approached, he looked very serious, on the other hand, Malgino flashed Fergus a bright smile.

"Sit down, Fergus. Malgino, you are free to go," Gryffindor looked over at the boys and ordered.

Malgino seriously nodded and gave a secret look to Fergus before walking out. The door closed after Malgino and Fergus sat down curiously looking at his father. After a long silence, Gryffindor spoke,

"Malgino told me a lot about your involvement in the recent events."

Fergus swallowed.

"He also said you didn't use magic outside of our supervision, not even once," Gryffindor looked up at his son, and Fergus was surprised to see guilt in his eyes. "Not even when you were attacked by a werewolf."

Fergus stayed silent. He didn't know what he was supposed to say.

"Your silence always means yes," Gryffindor sighed. "I just want to know one thing, Fergus. Are you happy? Here? At Hogwarts?"

Fergus's eyes widened at his father's genuine voice. Gryffindor had never asked this before. It took Fergus a while to answer.

"Yes," Fergus said finally, confidently. He was telling the truth. He was really happy because of Malgino's friendship. Only because of him, Hogwarts felt like home.

Gryffindor nodded. "You can go."

Fergus startled slowly got up. Before he reached for the door, Gryffindor called, "Fergus?"

"Yes, father?" Fergus instantly turned around.

Gryffindor opened his mouth but then thought something and closed his mouth. He shook his head.

"Malgino is a good kid. I'm glad you have a friend like him."

"I know," Fergus smiled.

. . .

A few months after the meeting with Gryffindor, Fergus was running through the corridors.

"Mal, I just found this . . . exciting place . . ." Fergus out of breath entered their usual hangout classroom and saw no one there. "Mal?"

Fergus looked confused as he looked around. He went back running to find Malgino. He checked a few classrooms and at last, entered the big special wizard's room. After the incident with Helena, he barely came here and Malgino also stopped coming here often. So Fergus didn't expect Malgino to be here, let alone sitting in an armchair with Helena. They looked so deep in their conversation that they didn't notice Fergus. 

Fergus was surprised because Malgino hadn't talked to Helena for more than a year. But right now, they looked like they were discussing something important, and Helena looked quite distressed, Fergus didn't disturb them and stepped out of the room. He wasn't upset, in fact, he was happy that Malgino was ready to forgive Helena. No matter what, Helena was Malgino's first friend in Hogwarts.

. . .

"Mal, are you going to be at the lake for the underwater swimming competition?" Fergus asked completing his homework.

Malgino was staring at his potions notes and it didn't look like he heard him. 

"Mal!"

"Huh?" Malgino turned startled.

"I asked if you were going to the competition tomorrow at the lake? I'm participating," Fergus clarified.

"Oh, yeah, of course," Malgino nodded and smiled. "Of course. I would be there to cheer you on. Swimming champion Fergus!"

Fergus laughed. "Thanks."

Malgino kept his promise and came. But the whole competition he sat near the founders and talked to Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. When Fergus won and came out of the water, Malgino didn't even look in his direction. He kept talking to Rowena, looking very serious.

.

"Fergus!" Malgino came jogging towards Fergus as he walked out of a class.

"Where were you? You missed the charms class. Madam Helga was asking about you," Fergus said looking worried.

"I had better things to do than learn how to clean cooking pots," Malgino said rolling his eyes.

Fergus was shocked because of Malgino's tone. He wasn't joking but mocking and Fergus had never seen him mocking any lesson or magic. 

"Mal, were you –?"

"Anyway, I needed some giant squid venom," Malgino cut Fergus off and handed him a vial.

"Again?" Fergus stared at him. "What are you doing with so much squid venom?"

"Working on something," Malgino shrugged. "I also need some doxies. I'm going to catch them. Bring the venom to our classroom."

And Malgino ran away. 

As more time passed, Malgino grew more and more demanding. He barely went out with Fergus anymore, neither he told Fergus what was he working on. Fergus was worried for him, to say the least. Because the things Malgino was asking were getting more and more dangerous.

Today he wanted a Devil Snare, which Fergus failed to bring.

"Where is it, Fergus?" Malgino looked up from his incomprehensible scribbled notes. He looked as if he barely slept for at least three days.

"I couldn't get it," Fergus looked red as he said. "I'll bring it tomorrow."

"Why?" Malgino asked looking tired.

"I was talking to someone I met," Fergus looked down trying to hide the increasing redness of his cheeks. "Mal, she –"

"You wasted my day talking to a stupid student?" Malgino stood up angrily.

Fergus flinched.

"You are being rude again, Mal. She is not–"

"I don't care. Do you know how many hours, days, and weeks I've spent in the dungeons for this experiment? You want to tell me chatting with this random person was important than the job I gave you?" Malgino glared at Fergus and he looked at Malgino stunned.

After a moment, Malgino grabbed his notes and stormed out of the room.

Malgino didn't talk to Fergus for a few days and Fergus let him be to cool off. Maybe, he was working on something important and was upset because he couldn't finish it.

Meanwhile, Fergus devoted all his time reading books about magic and spending time with his new friends.

Emory Astralo was the girl Fergus was talking to since that day. Fergus had never met someone so kind and sweet. He liked spending time with her and when Emory introduced him to her friends, Fergus was surprised at how well they got along. Emory had three friends and all of them liked to read about magic and Emory especially loved magical creatures. Fergus and Emory spent hours playing with Kneazles and Dimicrawls in the forest. Then he read and discussed their class and different types of magic with Emory's friends who were now his friends.

Even though Fergus had fun with his new friends, Malgino always stayed in the back of his head. Fergus was still worried about him. Finally, one day Malgino caught him after class.

"Fergus!" 

"Hey!" Fergus wasn't surprised.

"Well . . . I . . ." Malgino hesitated but Fergus patiently waited. "Sorry about our last talk. I was acting like a Gnome. I was just so worried about my experiments. I am failing again and again and–"

"So why don't you let me help? Just tell me what are you doing and I'll help," Fergus said calmly. "Don't you trust me, Mal?"

"Don't be ridiculous. You are the only person I trust," Malgino looked sheepish. "Maybe that's why I was so angry at you. You never disappoint me. Anyway, I will tell you everything, soon."

"So you don't need my help?"

"I do," Malgino sighed. "But you are busy with your classmates. Which is very good, by the way. I always asked you to make friends."

"Mal, you know you're my best friend, right? I would always help you, even if I am busy," Fergus said seriously.

Malgino looked as if he was waiting for Fergus to say it. He gave a big smile.

"Thank you, Fergus. I do need something important."

⟦To be continued⟧